Can moms have it all?

Getting off the fast track doesn't have to ruin your career

It’s no surprise that becoming a mom changes everything. Many career-focused new moms don't expect they'll scale back after the baby arrives, but often priorities change. The good news for moms who hop off the career fast track is there are now more work options and opportunities than ever.

Mom Corps, founded in 2005, has experienced a huge national evolution, providing companies throughout the country with “on demand” and flextime professionals. This trend has been a win win for moms seeking more balance in their life.

“I just couldn't handle the consistent work week,” Allison O’Kelly , CEO of Mom Corps, says of her full-time corporate job, which she quit after her first son was born. “it wasn't about hours for me. I needed flexibility.”

O’Kelly started Mom Corps, a staffing company that finds full-time, part-time and contract jobs for moms looking to keep their careers going while spending more time with their kids. She says there’s a definite increase in the willingness of companies to allow flexibility for their employees.

Mom Corps is a premier staffing solution, supplying companies top-tier, professionals “on demand” to meet business needs and cycles, while enabling candidates seeking flexibility to pursue their professional careers and maintain work/life balance. Now with over 50,000+ candidates nationwide, hundreds of clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, and 13 franchise locations, Mom Corps is poised to continue its exponential growth throughout the remainder of 2010.

“So many people in our generation have gotten their law degrees or their MBA's, and now they're having kids and discover they don't want to work the traditional schedule,” O’Kelly says. “If the companies don't want to work with these flexible schedules, they're going to miss out on some great talent.”

O’Kelly has seen a recent increase in corporate flexibility, thanks to the economic downturn.

“Companies are finding it’s a good thing to only have to pay employees for 30 hours a week or just pay for the weeks they need them.” O’Kelly says. “It’s a really good business decision for them to offer flexibility because they're getting better talent and not having to hire someone on a full-time basis with benefits that they can't afford right now.”

Nonetheless, even if your children are top priority, some women fear being disregarded at work and, worse yet, losing their career entirely.

“The hardest thing for people who have been very successful is that you're taking yourself off the career track,” O’Kelly says. “For now, you're going to see people getting promoted ahead of you, and maybe you're going to see people who worked for you become your boss.”

The news for moms who hop off the career fast track to focus on motherhood is bright. "You can always get back on,” O’Kelly says. “Even if you're out altogether and don't take that flexible job. At some point you could do volunteer work or get an internship; there are so many ways to freshen up your skills. It’s a lot easier if you stay in, but you can do it even if you've been out for a while.”